Warmer Bath

Bath Preservation Trust and the Centre for Sustainable Energy
prices and more cold homes. Improving the energy
performance of our homes today is the best way of
preparing for this future.
This document is designed for owners and inhabitants of
all traditional buildings in Bath, not just listed buildings
(see below). The scope for improving the energy
performance of unlisted buildings is much greater than
for listed buildings but there are still some planning
constraints to consider. This document provides basic
guidance on these constraints but it is always worth
checking with the Council’s planning department if
you are unsure of how current policy applies to your
property.
The practical guidance in Chapter 4 describes many
different interventions from draught-proofing to
installing solar panels. However, the improvement of a
traditional building – or indeed any building – should
always be approached holistically. This means thinking
through the full range of possible interventions,
considering their combined impacts and working out
the most appropriate and cost-effective action plan for
the individual building. Chapters 2 and 3 provide some
guidance about the issues to think about when making
such an assessment for your home.
The traditional buildings of Bath: key types
10
Georgian townhouses
These terraced townhouses are characterised by
Palladian, classical and neoclassical elevations,
ranging from palace fronted set pieces, grand streets,
architectural sequences and sweeping crescents to
simple artisan housing.
The houses are typically constructed from rubble stone,
faced with honey coloured Bath ashlar on the primary
frontage or street elevation, though many simpler
houses are constructed from six inch ashlar without
rubble backing. Rear facades are rubble stone, many
of which were originally rendered with lime stucco to
resemble ashlar.
Houses are normally three storeys with basement and
attic. The basement is usually at ground level to avoid
excavation and to be dry. Where there are differences in
ground level there may be a sub-basement. In front of
the house there is an area at basement level separating
the house from the street and bridged to reach the
entrance. Under the street itself are vaults that belong to
individual houses.
The roof is normally a double mansard with an ‘M’ shape
behind the parapet and central valley.
The early 18th century windows have two sashes, each
with three by three panes (9 over 9) and ‘ovolo’ glazing
bar profiles. By the 1730s the sash became divided with
the three pane wide, two pane high sash (6 over 6) and
thinner glazing bars. Four patterns of glazing bars are
common in Bath: ovolo, astragal and hollow, keel and
lamb’s tongue.
By the mid 19th century, window sills were lowered
and plate glass inserted to single sashes. Whether or
not these windows should be returned to their original
appearance is a conservation dilemma.
The use of Bath stone (ashlar or rubble) quarried locally
provides uniformity and cohesiveness. Other prevalent
traditional materials in the Bath palette include painted
cast and wrought iron, lead, natural slates (stone, Welsh,
Westmoreland Green, and Delabole), pennant paving,
setts, clay double Roman Bridgewater pantiles, cream
or red terracotta chimney pots, lime render, timber
sash windows, and glass. Lias limestone and ornately
patterned brick are less common.
Buildings are characterised by architectural finesse:
‘icing on the cake’ details which provide an exhibition
of ornamental stonework (volutes, columns, capitals,
pediments, ramped cornices) and details such as incised
street names, delicate wrought iron, and elaborate door
knockers.
Internal features of interest include the layout, principal
floor ‘piano nobile’, interior wall surfaces to imply parts of
the classical order using joinery mouldings, ornamental
plaster work and decorative chimney pieces.
Nineteenth century villas
Nineteenth century villas on the fringes of the Georgian
city, developed from the Greek Revival and the ideas of
the Picturesque movement, are primarily Italianate in
style, although some examples are in the Gothic Revival
or castellated style. Key characteristics of the 19th
century villa include asymmetrical plan, a varied roofline,
emphasised large overhanging eaves, and ideally a
corner tower. Bath villas are generally detached or semidetached
substantial properties built within a generous
garden. Fundamental to the villa style is the setting